Italian Air Travel Faces Major Disruptions July 10

Nationwide strike to impact flights, baggage, and airport services.

Travelers should prepare for significant disruptions on Thursday, July 10, 2025, as Italian air transport workers stage a 24-hour nationwide strike. Expect delays and cancellations affecting everything from check-in to baggage handling.

Nationwide Strike Details

The strike, involving both flight and ground staff, is a coordinated action by multiple unions protesting working conditions and seeking improved contracts. The action is scheduled to last from midnight to 11:59 PM, with potential for further disruption from local mobilizations.

Unions involved cite unsatisfactory working conditions, calls for improved contractual terms, better pay, and opposition to recent company restructurings as reasons for the industrial action.

Which Entities Are Participating?

The nationwide strike includes employees of handling companies under Assohandlers, impacting ground services at Italian airports. EasyJet flight staff will also strike for 24 hours.

• Flai Transport and Services: 24-hour national strike for handling companies associated with Assohandlers.
• Ost Cub Transport: Two 24-hour strikes affecting drivers at Milan Linate and Malpensa airports, plus Swissport Italia staff at Milan Linate.
• Uil-il, FILT-CGIL, and Ost fit-cisl: 24-hour strikes for Swissport Italia staff at Milan Linate Airport.
• OSR USB Private work: 24 hours for Airport Handling staff at Milan Linate and Malpensa.
• USB private work: 24 hours for EasyJet Airlines Savergant staff.

Local and Interregional Strikes

In addition to the nationwide action, local strikes will affect airports in Venice, Naples, and Cagliari.

• Flai Transport and Services: 24 hours for Aviation Services staff at Venice Airport.
• OSR Filt-Cgil / Fit-Cisl / Ugl-ta / USB Private work: 4 hours (11:00-15:00) for Romeo Gestioni staff at Naples Capodichino Airport.
• OSR ugl-ta: 4 hours (13:00-17:00) for Sogaer Security staff at Cagliari Airport.

Flights to Palermo may also be impacted. OSR FILT-CGIL/Fit-Cisl/Uilt-Uil-Uil/Ugl Ta have called a 24-hour strike for July 11 for personnel at Gesap Airport of Palermo, beginning immediately after the July 10 strike ends.

Airline Responses

ITA Airways

ITA Airways has preemptively canceled 36 flights, both domestic and international, due to the strike.

Options for passengers with flights scheduled for July 10:

• Check flight status on the Ita-Airways.com website (“Flight info” section).
• Change reservations without penalties.
• Request a refund if the flight is canceled or delayed by more than 5 hours.
• Requests must be made by July 16 via the call center (+39 06 85960020) or your travel agency.

EasyJet

EasyJet sailing staff will also participate in the strike. While a list of canceled flights hasn’t been released, significant disruptions are anticipated.

EasyJet advises passengers to:

• Check the “Reservation” section of the official website.
• Monitor emails and app notifications for updates.

Guaranteed Flights and Protection Bands

The ENAC (National Authority for Civil Aviation) will publish a list of guaranteed flights closer to the strike date.

Flights within the following time slots must operate:

• 07:00–10:00
• 18:00–21:00

These protection bands apply to flights to/from national and international airports.

Charter flights to and from the islands authorized before the strike will operate. The following daily connections with the islands (excluding continental traffic) will also be maintained:

• VOE 1428 Florence (Lirq) Olbia (Lieo)
• VOE 1214 Venetian (LIPZ) Olbia (LIEO)
• VOE 1778 Verona (LIPX) Olbian (LIEO)
• VOE 1745 Verona (Lipx) Catania (LICC)
• EJU 3569 Malpensesa (Lim) Cagliari (Liene)
• Eju 3599 Malpens (Limc) Lampedus (LICD)
• Eju 3600 Lampedus (LICD) Malpens (Limc)
• Andu 4128 Cagliari (WIE) Naples – Tapertehirt
• WMT 6343 Malpensa (Limc) Lampedusa (LICD)
• WMT 6349 Malpensa (Limc) Olbia (Lieo)
• Ryr 1090 Malpensa (Limc) Alghero (Liea)
• Ryr 1015 Malpensa (Limc) Palermo (LICJ)

Flights already in progress at the start of the strike will be allowed to reach their destinations. Departures delayed for reasons outside the control of involved parties will also be ensured.

International flights landing no more than thirty minutes after the strike begins will be allowed to land. Intercontinental flights, including those in transit, will remain operational.

Recommendations for Passengers

To minimize disruption:

• Check flight status on the airline website.
• Consult the list of guaranteed flights on the ENAC website.
• Arrive at the airport early.
• Bring all communications from the airline (SMS, e-mail).
• Contact customer support for international connections requiring rebooking.

According to recent data, strikes in the air transport sector have increased by 18% in the last year, leading to greater awareness of passenger rights and potential disruptions (Eurocontrol).

Passenger Rights

European Regulation EC 261/2004 entitles passengers to:

• Reimbursement for cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice (excluding unpredictable strikes).
• Compensation for delays exceeding 3 hours upon arrival.
• Compensation for denied boarding or overbooking.
• Assistance and ticket reimbursement for strikes announced in advance (companies aren’t obligated to provide compensation).

Useful Contacts

• ENAC – Guaranteed flights: www.enac.gov.it
• Ita Airways – Info Voli: www.ita-airways.com
• Easyjet – Flight State: www.easyjet.com
• Airports:
  • Milano: www.milanomalpensa-airport.com
  • Rome Fiumicino: www.adr.it
  • Napoli Capodichino: www.aeroportodinapoli.it
  • Venezia: www.veniceairport.it
  • Cagliari: www.cagliariairport.it

The air strike on July 10, 2025, threatens significant disruption for travelers. Checking flight status, understanding passenger rights, and planning ahead are crucial to mitigate potential issues.